MSHA Training

www.msha.gov

In a five-year period from 1906-1911, 13,228 miners were killed in U.S. coal mines. As a result, the Bureau of Mines was established by Congress on July 1, 1910, "to make diligent investigation of the methods of mining, especially in relation to the safety of miners and the appliances best adapted to prevent accidents."

Over the years, Congress passed other legislation designed to promote health and safety in the mines, including the 1966 Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Mine Safety Act (P.L. 89-577) and the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-173). The most recent regulatory legislation combined the coal and metal and nonmetal industries under one law--the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. This act directed that "All miners, to include construction personnel shall be TRAINED?...The training shall consist of all required MSHA regulatory standards of Part 48 (A) Underground, Part 48(B) Surface, and Part 46 Surface. In performing this function, Safe*T*Link Group, Inc. shall have the authorization to enter into cooperative educational and training agreements with educational institutions, mining operators and facilities-underground and surface mines, construction companies, labor organizations, and related industries." It is through the training provisions of this legislation that Safe*T*Link Group, Inc. functions.

PURPOSE: Safe*T*Link Group, Inc. develops and conducts instructional programs to assist in government, industry, construction, and labor efforts to reduce accidents and health hazards in the mineral industries.  

OBJECTIVE: Progress has been made in recent years in the improvement of the health and safety conditions in U.S. mines. However, further improvements must be made before mining is removed from the list of high-risk industries. These improvements can only come about through the establishment of effective safety & health programs and training, accident prevention, and industrial hygiene programs.

Education is a vital element in any accident prevention program, and Safe*T*Link Group, Inc. will assist in providing this education. Our objective is to develop, implement, and promote mine safety and health through education programs in cooperation with educational institutions, state government, labor, industry, and construction. Our goal is safer mines and healthier miners through education.